The NSW Government is strengthening the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) flood rescue fleet, with new vehicles being rolled across the state.
Included in this year’s flood rescue fleet upgrades are ten new High Clearance Vehicles with cranes and specialised equipment worth $800,000 each and 11 light flood rescue Land Cruisers valued at $270,000 each. This is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to deliver on the things that matter, supporting community resilience and safety.
The addition of these vehicles to the NSW SES fleet across regional parts of the state will increase volunteers’ ability to access isolated communities and perform critical rescues during flooding.
Built at Alexander Perrie & Co at Port Kembla in the Illawarra, the new 4WD flood rescue vehicles are designed with enhanced offroad capability, and have a custom-built body for flood rescue equipment, as well as integrated stowage for inflatable flood rescue rafts. These vehicles are now being delivered to SES units in Wyong, Kiama, Tamworth, Ballina, Yamba, Orange, Forbes and Sydney.
Further, the high clearance vehicles are designed to operate in extreme off-road conditions and through floodwaters up to 1.2 metres deep, enabling SES crews to deliver essential supplies, complete rescues, and support other emergency services in remote and hard-to-reach locations.
The delivery of the new vehicles comes as SES crews responded to more than 59,000 incidents in the past 12 months, an 24,500 increase from the previous 12-month period, in what has been the busiest year since 2022.
The NSW Government thanked communities for following emergency service advice to prepare, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting wetter than average weather will continue until the end of the year.
September to April is typically the time when the frequency of storms, strong winds and heavy rain increases, but August has already been wet for much of the state.
High clearance vehicles will be delivered across the state, including to areas recently impacted by flooding, such as Murwillumbah, Coffs Harbour and Taree. Others will be operational throughout Ku-ring-gai, Broken Hill, Goulburn, Moruya, Forbes and Dubbo.
The fleet rollout follows extensive consultation with SES volunteers, trainers, and manufacturers to ensure each vehicle meets the operational challenges of the State’s diverse landscapes.
NSW Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, thanked the SES volunteers, saying that they are out in force this year and are a reassuring sight for communities in times of need.
“These new vehicles ensure we are giving our frontline emergency services the equipment they need to respond faster, reach more people in isolated areas and carry out rescues in some of the most challenging conditions,” Dib said.
“Our investment in these vehicles is about making sure the people who run towards danger to help others have the tools they need to do it safely.
“We know we can count on SES crews to help communities, and I would encourage anyone who wants to join to sign up.”
NSW SES Deputy Commissioner, Damien Johnson, said that these vehicles represent a significant step forward in flood and disaster response capability.
“We’ve worked closely with our volunteers and technical experts to ensure these designs meet the realities of field operations — whether that’s wading through more than a metre of floodwater, navigating fire trails, or delivering supplies to communities cut off by floodwaters,” Johnson said.
“This investment brings our total number of high clearance vehicles to 20 and means our dedicated members will be able to work more safely and effectively when the next emergency comes.”
